The posters in this group celebrate cinema, dance, art, and literature. During the years after the Russian Revolution, the Soviet government provided lavish financial support for the cinema. Along with the poster, film was considered an important means if indoctrination and education for the illiterate masses. Lenin had stated “of all the arts. For us the cinema is the most important.” in the 20’s soviet films and posters were in the avante garde, an artist’s helped shape the new social order. Constructivisms as well as futurism, with its use of machine forms, were important influences during this time. Soviet poster artists made bold advances in the use of experimental photography, photomontage, and typography as basic design elements. There are considerable interests in foreign films, and Soviet posters for these films were often strikingly dramatic and original. Once again, there was a renewed energy and enthusiasm for cinema as producers in the Soviet Union enjoy more independence and freedom. More foreign films were being made available for distribution in the Soviet Union, where they were enthusiastically received by audiences. These posters express the vitality and interest in cinema made possible by the spirit of glasnost.
The Ascent of Fujiyama
Yermolov 1989
A Choir of One
(Documentary)
Gel’finboym 1988
Andrei Rublev
Andrei Rublev was a great Russian icon painter of the 13th century. His work, an example of which is depicted in this poster, was highly original, even revolutionary for this time.
Vitshin 1988
The Dissident
Maystrovsky 1989
Commissar
Maystrovsky 1988
The Boat
Chantsev 1989
Sacrifice
(Film by Andrei Tarkovsky)
Maystrovsky 1988
The New Adventures of a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s court.
(Fantasy film)
Chantsev
Date unknown
Cabaret
Bob fosse, director
The decadence of pre-war Berlin and the stylish production of this film, which won eight Academy awards, proved an unbeatable combination for Soviet audiences. The style is reminiscent of the exuberance of Jules Cheret or Toulouse-Lautrec in posters for the Moulin Rouge and the Folies Bergeres at the turn of the century.
Yermolov 1989
One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
Mios Forman, directo
Individual minds controlled by the faceless institution, pictured as the top portion of the six heads. Clearly, the theme of the individual who rebels against a rigid authoritarian system which eventually crushes him strikes a responsive chord in many Soviet people.
Maystrovsky 1988
Dimitri Shostakovich–Golden Century
(Ballet in 3 acts) Dimitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was a very important Soviet composer, known for his bold, expressive style. He is best known for his 15 symphonies, but also wrote famous concertos, string quartets, songs, ballets, and an opera.
Katerina Ismailova 1989
175th anniversary of the birth of the poet Lermontov
The Russian poet and novelist Mikhail Lermontov (1814-1841) was well known and loved for his lyric poetry. Mush of his writing expressed intense frustration and boredom with life in Russia under Czar Nicholas I, who had imposed strict censorship. Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Times” is considered to be the first psychological novel in Russian literature.
Nepomnyashchy 1989
Land of the Soviets. An all-Union art exhibit dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the October Revolution.
Lukyanov 1987